Printing machinery



Oct. 22, 1929. U 1,732,683

' PRINTING MACHINERY Filed D80. 29, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1929. F UBL 1,732,683

PRINTING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 29, 192'? 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 QA/ZK/ Oct. 22, 1929. F. HUBL v fl fi PRINTING MACHINERY Filed Dec. 29, 1927 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fly. 11

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Patented Oct. 2 2, 1929 PATENT OFFICE FRANZ m'iBL, or 'rmns'r, ITALY PRINTING MACHINERY Application filed December 29, 1327, Serial No.

The present invention relates to a spray printing machine. The object of this invention is to operate the nozzle sprayer organs in accordance with the pattern by a cheap and simple means, to ensure in a simpler manner close engagement of the stencils with the material to be printed upon and in that way to produce sharply outlined patterns, to ensure automatically the exact fitting of the colours into each other and finally to avoid faulty printing by signals given in good time.

Several constructions according to the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a mechanical nozzle operating device, Figures 2, 8, 4 and are the corresponding detail views of which Fig. 2 is a side elevational view showing the head of the pins engaging the nozzle opening levers, Fig. 3 a front View, Fig. 4 a plan view of the perforated card together with the system of cooperating slides and intermediate levers for operating the nozzles. Fig. 5 is a view showing slides coupled together for producing symmetrical patterns. Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a construction of an electromechanically controlled nozzle. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the construction according to Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows in perspective a part of the endless driving band provided with needle bars. Fig. 9 shows diagrammatically a cross section through the spraying table and the stencil frame. Fig. 10'shows a construction of an electro-pneumatic nozzle operating device. Fig. 11 illustrates an arrangement for operating the nozzles by means of an electric contact device, covered by paper stencils.

On a stationary flat table plate 1, a driver 3 (Figure 1) is moved together with the material 4 to be printed upon, over rollers 2 to the extent of thelength of a stencil at each working operation. v The stencils belonging to a. single pattern 243,438, and in Germany November is, 1926.

(for instance four stencils I to IV) are mounted in a joint frame 5, rest on the material to be printed upon and participate in its uniformly progressing movement. During this time, the pattern is sprayed simultaneously in all its colours, a compressed air spraying device I IV being reciprocated transversely of the path of the material above each stencil. At each advance given to the material, the spraying device during its corresponding movement forward, moves with the material, is moved back at the end of the path to the extent corresponding to each spraying strip, during the subsequent return follows again the material and so on, so that the path followed by each spraying nozzle has the shape of an 8, and the material is sprayed in parallel strips at equal distances and with a uniform colour tint.

All the spraying devices are mounted on a joint carriage 6 on which they can be moved at will in the longitudinal direction of the web of the fabric or material. The carriage reciprocates in guides 7 and can be moreover turned laterally about joints G; a pin Z projects from the carriage into the stationary 8- shaped path A (a detail shown separately above Figure 1), owing to which the carriage and therefore the nozzles are forced to move in the'form of an 8.

The spraying in parallel stri s will continue until the stenc1l frame stri es the stop 8. At that moment, the nozzles stop, the stencils are lifted 01f from the material to a few centimeters and moved in the raised position to the extent of a stencil length to their initial position, back to the stop 9, are lowered again on the table, and the spraying begins again. g In order to obtain sharp outlines, the stencils must be firmly pressed against the material. According to the invention, this is ensured in the simplest manner by placing on the tables flat elastic cushion or mattress 10 (for instance a pneumatic rubber mattress or the like) over which slide the driver 3 and the material with the stencils.

The elastic mattress or cushion follows the uneven portions of the sheet metal stencils and presses the material or fabric from below in a uniform and tight manner against every point of the stencil.

Compressed air is supplied through a swinging or pivoted hose 12 provided with a cook 11, and through a distributor pipe 13 provided on the carriage 6, to the single spraying devices.

The supply of paint or colour to each spraying nozzle is effected separately either from stationary colour containers through oscillating hose pipes 14,15, 16, 17, or colour pots K could be mounted (Figure 3) on the carriage 6 directlynext to the spraying devices.

In place of a'joint carriage 6, each spraying apparatus could be mounted on a slide of its own, and have a separate drive.

According to the invention, the cost of the expensive profile or outline spraying cards for theoperation of-the nozzles in accordance with the pattern, for the sake of economy of colour, can be substantially re duced by using for each nozzle or stencil, a nozzle automaton which can be used e uallyl well for 'any patterns and brings a out t e local nozzle operation to suit the pattern by means of a single easily interchangeable organ (punched card, perforated or profile rollers or the like) which is shaped to suit the pattern to be produced.

According to the invention, the nozzle automaton could be a device which produces the operation of the nozzles either by purely mechanical means, or by a combination of electric and mechanical means, or finally by electro-pneumatic means.

Constructions for purely mechanical nozzle operation are shown by way of example in the automaton of Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5, for electro-mechanical in Figures 6 and 7, and for electro-pneumatic in the automaton of Figure 10.

he spraying device Sp (Figure 3) is laterally provided with a pin 19 with a head 20, vertically adjustable in guides 18 and 18"; this pin is shown in' Figure 2 in side elevation. This headwhich could also be formed into a roller, is constantly pressed upwards b the lever 21 under the action of an inner c osing spring of the spraying device.

The opening of the nozzles is effected by control stops 22 which are distributed above 'the head 20 over the whole width of the stencil along the line ef (Figure 4) and ently of each other in guides 24. At the left hand end, each slide has a stop 26, with the right hand end of each slide engages a bell crank lever 27 pivoted about 27, a tension spring 28 always tending to bring the said lever, together with the slide 25, to the right, into the end position limited by the stop 24:, 26, in which the control stops 22 are situated in the line ef, outside the path of the head 20. -Each bell crank lever 27 is provided on one arm with a pin 29 and can be pulled by the spring 28 into the position shown in chain dotted lines only when the card 30 arranged above, is perforated at the point in question. Each row of holes in the card corresponds to one spraying strip. \Vhere there are no holes, the corresponding slide 25 will be pressed with the control stop 22 into the path of the head 20 (line c-rl), and there the nozzle will be caused to spray owing to the sinking of the pin 19 and lever 21. Where holes in the card prevent the pins 29 from being depressed, their slides 25 with the control blades or pins 22, remain in the line ef outside the path of the heads 20, and the nozzle stops spraying there.

During the time in which the spraying devices make an idle passage over the edge of the stencil, the said perforated or punched card is intermittently moved by the action of a feed gear to the extent of one row of holes, until the pattern is completely sprayed by the time the last row of holes is reached. The-punched card is then lifted off simultaneously with the stencils, brought back to the first row of holes and lowered down.

Instead of acting in a plane, the punched card could be placed on a cylinder and advanced in a corresponding manner.

In the case of symmetrical patterns, for instance in table covers which have two symmetry lines, the punched card need be made only for one quarter, and in such a case the symmetrical control blades or the support-' ing bars 25 are suitably coupled together as shown in Figure 5. Only one half of the bars is controlled by the card, whilst the other half moves symmetrically. The feed or advance gear for the punched cards is then such that the advance is effected intermittently from one row of holes to another in one direction from the beginning to the centre of the stencil, and in the opposite direction from the centre to the end.

The nozzle automaton with electro-mechanica-l working shown in Figures 6 and 7, works in the following manner With each nozzle 44 and saddle 80 (Figures 6 and 7) reciprocates a wheel 81 which is constituted by two parallel discs; to its spindle is keyed a gear wheel 82 which meshes with a rack 83 mounted in a fixed manner parallel to the path of the slide, so that the wheel 81 rolls to and fro. mounted on slides 25 which slide independ- V by the pattern, by points 87 operated or set termittent line advance.

by the spraying card, 86.

The guide beads 85 of all the pins are forced by the points 87 either into the circular groove 88 in which case they do not stand out and cannot operate the nozzles, or intothe parallel circular groove 89 in which case the nozzle is caused to spray. The spraying card'operates the points 87 in such a manner that with the nozzle carriage reciprocates a sliding contact 90, it feels the copper drum 91 and closes a circuit in the electromagnet 92 when there is a hole in the s raying card 86 which travels as a perforate paper band over the copper roller 91.

-The magnet 92 o erates the points setting lever 93, and sets t e pins 84 consecutively, if desired in advance, but point by point, in accordance with the rolling of the feed wheel 21. Such an arrangement works smoothly and is therefore an improvement of the in- In place of an electric feeling and magnetic points control, ac-

cording to the invention the operation could be effected mechanically by a mechanical feeler dropping into holes of a card or band and acting direct on the points.

The electro-pneumatic nozzle automaton works with electric current and compressed air, the electric current, or the energized magnet, controlling a valve to a compressed air cylinder, so that the nozzle opening requiring power is really effected by compressed air.

With the spraying apparatus 44 (Figure 10) reciprocate a compressed air cylinder 38 and a magnet 35. The compressed air hose pipe and the electric cables to the magnet oscillate about the fixed point 47 and are carried to their point of destination over articulated rods 48. I

A card punched in accordance with the pattern is placed overa rotated roller 31, and

a a contact 34 sliding along a screw spindle 32, feels the punched card in a helical line. When a circuit is closed, the magnet 35 electrically connected to the contact 34, is energized and attracts the plate armature 36 in opposition to the action of the springs 36 and 36. With the armature 36 is raised the piston valve 37 of the compressed air cylinder 38, connected to it, and releases the inlet ports 39, whilst the exhaust ports 40 are closed. The compressed air supplied through control lever 45 into the open position.

When the circuit is broken, the armature 36 and with it the valve 37 return to their original position, theinlet ports 39 are closed,

the exhaust ports 40 opened, and the com-- pressed air escapes from the cylinder 38 through bores in the piston valve 37. The compressed air piston 37 can return to its raised position, and the nozzle control lever 45 returns, to its closing position under the action of inner springs.

All the construction of nozzle automatons described are based on the idea of the invention to operate, by means of an organ shaped in accordance with the pattern (cheap punched cards etc.), a transmission and strengthenin device (nozzle automaton) equally suitable for any patterns, and to control the nozzles accordingly.

.The exact register of the single prints produced with stencils following each other, or of the colours into each other, is not already ensured by the master atent.

The driver, driven y friction, together with the material or fabric, is liable to shift, and the attendant watching the machine, is forced to make adjustments of the advance if faulty printing is to be avoided. He has also to see that there is always enough colour in the colour pots etc., so that he has too much to do, and yet faulty printing cannot -be avoided. The object of the present inven- (the material and the stencils) are moved during the process of printing in rigid connection with each other, so that an independent movement of the material or a wrong placing of the stencils is precluded.

. In printing repeat patterns, for instance table covers in which a free edge is left be tween two covers, the said edge or blank strip is utilized for arranging on the driver at the point in question for instance needle bars 62 with upright needles 63 (Figures 8 and 9) on which the fabric to be printed upon, is fixed. The longitudinal distance of a-needle bar 62 from the next one 62 corresponds to the length of a table cover. For ensuring the exact longitudinal distance between the needle bars which are distributed at equal distances apart over the whole length of the ments are arranged the devices for positioning the stencilframe. In Figures 8 and 9 are shown by way of example pins 66.

In the diagrammatic cross section through the spraying table and the stencils (Figure 9), 3 is the driver, 02 the needle bar, (33 the needles, 64 the steel bands, 4 the material or fabric and 66 the position pins. Under the same, on the table 1 the elastic cushion 10, above the same the joint stencil frame 5 built up for instance of angle irons, with the stencil I. If the stencil I is to be placed on the material 4, this can be done only if the position pins (36 engage with the holes 71 of the frame 5. In such a case the single stencil frames 72 secured in the interior to the stencil, engage also by means of their po sition openings 73 with the pins 66.

As position openings 73 are arranged on all the stencils belonging to one and the same pattern in sucha manner that all the colours must fit each-other. exactly, any faulty printing due to want of register is avoided, as all the stencils are placed consecutively on the position pins (56, and the said pins travel with the material to be printed upon.

To ensure that the stencils I do not fit in the main frame 5 in a loose manner, but very tightly, to the position openings 71 of the frame 5 can be allotted fixed position elements, corresponding to the openings 71, with which the stencils engage on their part, owing to which the automatic fitting is ensured.

During the printing, the material together with the stencil is moved to the length of a repeat of a pattern, for instance to the length of a table cover, under the nozzles,

then the frame is lifted off the pins (56 and moved back in raised position until the bores 71 drop over the position pins (36 of the next bars 62. The stencils are lowered, the next colour is printed, and so on, until the material with the pattern sprayed on completely, leaves the machine at the end.

A spray printing machine with many colours would often give faulty prints owing to failure to notice in time that one or another colour is used up. This would mean that during further Working some pattern portions would be left blank, and they could not be printed subsequently at all, or would require very complicated printing. v

In order to avoid the said drawback, according to the invention are provided signalling devices which notify the attendant in good time, by optical or acoustic means, that a colour has been used up. In each colour container 49 is mounted a float 50 (Figure 10) which closes an electric circuit when the level of the colour drops to a given extent. The closing of the circuit operates an electric bell or causes to light up incandescent lamps of corresponding colour or the like.

In the colour container 49, the float 50 which passes through a hole in the cover of the container and through a second outer guide 51, carries the wire 52 with a steel plate 53. In the upwardly bent part of the colour container support 54 is provided a hole 55 into which, durin the reciprocation of the carriage (produced by the rod 59 secured to the Gall'chain 58, on the one hand, and to the carriage, on the other hand) along the guide -rods 57, is introduced the pin 56 resting at the front end of the path. When the level of colour in the container 49 drops, and therefore the float 5O sinks, the wire 52 and the plate 53 will also be lowered until this plate covers the hole 55, and during the next stroke, the advance pin 56 will no longer be able to pass freely, but will be pushed back and in that way a signal lamp will be lighted, or the machine stopped.

A nozzle controlling device according to Figure 10, which increases the visibility and simplicity and ensures a ready interchangeability of the punched cards is shown in Figure 11.

The punched card 30 lies on a slightly convex or fiat metal plate 100 serving as contact member, its size being, forinstance, one sixth of the stencil Sch.

The punched card and contact plate are moved together with the stencil Sch by a lever 102 pivotally mounted at 101, which lever is carried from the stencil by a pin 103 and acts on the pin 104 provided on the contact plate 100. The lever lengths are thereby so selected that the speed of the contact plate is reduced in accordance with the dimensions of the punched card relative to the stencil (to one sixth according to the example illustrated).

The contact plate 100 slides with the spraying apparatus 44 over the punched card 30, feeling a contact roller 105 here and there, which is mounted on a slide 106. The movement of this contact roller takes place with the spraying apparatus but with correspondingly reduced speed by means of a rod 107 which is connected at 108 to the articulated rod 48 guiding the compressed air hose pipe, said articulated rod being pivoted at 47.

Whenever the roller 105 closes the circuit of the battery B over the relay 35, the nozzle 44 will be opened and color given by means of the compressed air device 38 in the manner already described.

I claim Machine for patterning webs of material comprising a stencil arranged in a frame above the web of material, spraying nozzles which move to and fro transversely to the web of material and are effective according to the cut out portions of the stencil, a conveyor member for feeding the web of material together with the stencil, a contact plate connected to a pole of a current source and covered with a card which represents ameduction of the stencil according to scale'and is punched in conformity with the cut-out portions, means for advancing contact plate and cardsynchronously with the stencil at a reduced speed and valso a contact arm connected to the second pole of the current source and rolling synchronously with the spraynozzles over the punched card, which contact arm, in accordance with the openings of the punched card, establishes contact with the contact plate for the electromagnetically controlled operationof the nozzles.

In testimony whereof I afiixlny signature FRANZ HUBL. 

